Old Coaly facts for kids
Old Coaly was a famous mule who lived from 1855 to 1893. He helped build the very first main building at Pennsylvania State University, called Old Main. Coaly became well-known as one of Penn State's first unofficial mascots.
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Coaly's Early Life and Work
Coaly was born in Kentucky in 1855. In 1857, he moved to Pennsylvania with his owner, Piersol Lytle. Piersol's son, Andy, was one of the workers building Old Main.
Helping to Build Old Main
Coaly had a very important job. He pulled heavy limestone blocks to the construction site. These blocks came from a quarry, which is a place where stone is dug out of the ground. This quarry was located near where the Old Main lawn is today. You can find a special plaque there now that shows where the quarry used to be.
Coaly's Legacy at Penn State
People at Penn State loved Coaly very much. After he passed away on January 1, 1893, they decided to keep his bones. This way, Coaly could always be a part of the university's history.
Where Coaly's Skeleton Is Now
Over the years, Coaly's skeleton was moved to different buildings on campus. In 2004, it found a new home on the first floor of the HUB–Robeson Center. This move happened during the school's 150th anniversary celebration.
Places Named After Coaly
Many places at Penn State have been named to honor Old Coaly:
- There used to be a restaurant in the HUB called "Coaly's Cafe." It closed for renovations between 2001 and 2002.
- Penn State's baseball stadium, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, has a food stand called "Coaly's Corner."
- There is also a special group for students in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. It is called "The Coaly Society."
